Hollywood's Message to the Homeless: You Can Get Off the Street By Just Wanting to be Better

[JCMach1]

Will Smith's new movie "The Pursuit of Happyness " opened this week @ #1 in US box offices. Just what America needs... just become a stockbroker and you can get off the streets.

:wtf:




...What’s amazing is that the film never shows Chris going for government assistance. We are shown very clearly that the shelter he stays in is run by the church in a wonderful faith based initiative. And while he stays in this shelter, not one other homeless person intrudes on his story. By my count there are three homeless people (other than Chris and the son) who have lines: a crazy burnt out hippie who steals one of Chris’ bone scanners, thinking it’s a time machine (Chris losing scanners is a tiresome running gag), a belligerent bum who tries to cut Chris in line at the shelter and a crippled bum who calls the other bum out. This man and his son are deposited into this great mass of desperate people and none of them make a mark on them. What’s more, by reducing the story of homelessness to only Chris’, The Pursuit of Happyness is saying that anybody can get out of the gutter by simply really, really wanting to do better. Anyone who has worked with the homeless knows that this is utter horse shit, and a right wing talking point of horse shit at that – many people without homes don’t have other options, due to mental illness, disabilities or other profound problems. There are some who are on the streets because of their own dumb choices (hey, like Chris Gardner!) but there are also many who have found themselves there because they’ve been failed time and again. These are the people who were hanging on to the margins of society in the first place, and they have no handhold with which to climb back up. Quite simply not everyone can take a six month stock broker course for free... http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=reviews&id=8241


Don't spend your money on this right-wing propaganda for the holiday season!

[Donnachaidh]

1. Isn't Will Smith a scientologist?

If so, this story line would appeal to HIM and the rest of the Xenu bunch. And would see perfectly plausible as well. I already started to involuntarily gag watching one of his interviews about this movie -- so I know I won't waste my good money seeing it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. No, he is not

http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3591886

[Cha]

31. Will Smith is so

freakin' diplomatic!

There's all kinds of ways to get off the streets..I'm sure there's not just one way.

[Connie_Corleone]

2. Oh please! The movie is based on a true story.

The man wanted to raise his son. He did what he had to do to pursue his dream of becoming a stock broker. It's not an indictment against homeless people. It's about one man's journey to fulfill his dream.

[JCMach1]

3. And how many people can do that exactly... Did he do it without help?

In reality no!

This is pure propaganda of the worst kind...

It's the kind of commercial G.W. Bush ran in Texas when he was governor. You see, if you just work hard you will make it. There is no need for anything else see...

:puke:

Also, this story was ADAPTED from a true story and formed into something quite different and disgusting... I won't be buying this pablum...

[Connie_Corleone]

6. Have you seen the movie?

If not, then how do you know that no one in the film is depicting helping him in some way? It doesn't have to be government help. It could've been individual people who helped him along the way.

What the hell is wrong with showing a movie about someone going from homeless to fulfilling their dreams? People aren't stupid. They know not everyone can do that because every situation is different. But, why crap all over someone who was able to do it?

[JCMach1]

10. Seen the long trailers and reviews... will not see the movie

There is NO reality here at all just pablum.

[lukasahero]

30. Wait a minute - you haven't seen the movie?

Uh, ok.

[MadHound]

34. Geez, basing all of this verbage on a movie that you haven't even seen yet.

Wow:wow: That's pretty damn good of you to have that sort of insight into a movie based off of a 90 second trailer. Bravo, wish that we could all have your mental acumen.

True story friend. I was homeless once, in my late teens, for two years. I was clinically depressed, trying to sort out various issues in my life, living on the streets, or if I was lucky, snagging a nap on the couch at the radio station I volunteered at(yes, the only job I could hold down during this time period was a volunteer one, but I absolutely loved radio work). I did some things that I'm not proud of to survive, but I did not recieve any assistance from the government, family, or friends. I was on my own.

And yet you know what, through some serious soul searching and some very hard work, within a year of making the decision that I no longer wanted to live the homeless live, I wasn't. In fact I owned my own business, an arcade, had a small house out in the country, and was doing OK. And I have never fallen back into homelessness, though I did dip into and out of the poverty level throughout the eighties.

Now I have a decent house, on twenty acres, in rural Missouri. I'm going back to college to get my teaching degree, and meanwhile I'm running my own orchard, dealing with heirloom, organic fruit and nut trees, among other things. And yes, I give back to the community, I feel it is my duty not to forget where I came from. But yes, I have achieved my American dream. A wonderful wife, a fulfilling job, a place out in the country. I don't want riches or fame, just enough to be comfortable in my modest needs

Now I grant you, there are many, many people who for various mental and physical reasons are never going to rise above homelessness. That is a simple fact, and we should do all that we can to help those people get off the streets. But frankly, while it is a long, tough struggle, a lot of people can not only rise above homelessness, but they can also rise out of poverty. Yes, they need help and assistance, especially single parents with children.

But for you to hammer on this movie as being unrealistic, even though it is based on a true story, is ridiculous. There are many, many people who have done the same, risen above homelessness and achieved their version of the American dream. I'm one of them. Now, tell me again how this can't happen! Sorry, but you're full of it.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Real or not, it doesn't make a difference. The implied, untrue message is still there.

Namely, that "everybody can."

[DemocratSinceBirth]

39. Of Course I Disagree With The Message "Everybody Can"

But I believe "Everybody Should Try".

[Mikey929]

24. Welfare should be rare

Hey all: Just like abortion, welfare should be available but rare. I can't believe some people on here are attacking a movie about a man who worked his ass off and got out of the welfare system. That should be applauded!! Would it be better if he had never gotten off of welfare? Or if he and his son lived in poverty and were victims of crime and drugs? That might be a better indictment of society but don't attack a man because he worked hard and made a success out of himself. That's just plain stupid.

Welfare should be a fall-back position to help a person in times of need. It should not be a way of life. So I stand up and cheer when a person makes a success of himself. Good for him. Not every person can be a millionaire, but a lot more could be living a decent life with more hard work and less dumb choices (e.g., crime, drugs, etc).

Let's applaud success when we see it, not tear it down.

[JCMach1]

26. There are many people who 'work their asss off' and yet still live in poverty

It's American mythology... nothing more...

Social status and wealth is even more predetermined today than it has been since the Gilded Age...

As for welfare... what they are offering people IS last resort... no one can live off of it... That is another Republican myth...

[Mikey929]

46. Work Hard

I guess I just have a tough time believing people can work really hard and still be in poverty. Because if you truly work your ass off, it will get noticed and you will get some raises or promotions. And I mean really work hard -- show up early, stay late, and do whatever needs to be done. That kind of working will lead to a better life. Not always, but certainly a lot more often than not. I don't mean you will be a millionaire, but you can do OK. Assuming you stay away from the bad choices too -- alcohol, drugs, etc.

I still applaud the guy in the movie. I admire anyone who can make a success of himself and do it with honor and integrity.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ChaoticSilly]

48. Oh please

It's hard to get ahead by showing up early & staying late when you're not "qualified" for any job besides being a janitor because you can't afford to attend college and eat at the same time. Or are eating and paying rent "bad choices" also? I'm sure working hard really helped all those people who's jobs were outsourced over the past few years.

It's great that a few people can lift themselves out of poverty, but for every one that does there are thousands if not millions who can't simply because they made the "bad choice" of being born into a poor family.

[Mikey929]

50. You got me

Yes I am a Republican because I believe in hard work. Got me good. Is that what we've come to?? Give me a break. I was only saying that I find it hard to believe that someone can truly work hard and yet still live in POVERTY. I am defining poverty as a very low standard of living. And I do believe that hard work and good choices will -- more likely than not -- lead to a better life. Not necessarily make you rich, but lead to a better life. Is that so wrong?

But if you would rather throw accusations out instead of discussing an issue, please continue to demonstrate your shallowness.

[ChaoticSilly]

51. I don't believe I accused you of anything

You stated you you have a hard time believing that people who work hard and avoid making "bad choices" could still be poor. I was simply trying to illustrate that is very possible and actually more common than people realize. I still stand by my assertion that hard work, however noble it may be, is much less likely to contribute to "success" than being born in the "right" family. Are there people who have lifted themselves out of poverty? Yes, and I commend and respect them. But the ratio of the ones who can to the ones who can't is so skewed that the problem is not one of how hard one works. Again I ask, how much does hard work really contribute when the only job available is janitor? How many opportunities are there to better yourself when the only jobs you can find pay $5.15 an hour?

[hfojvt]

75. ahem.

I make fairly decent money as a janitor. :hi: So careful with that analogy. Some janitorial jobs have decent pay and benefits. Most don't, but you can move up by changing employers if you have a good work record.

But I also worked pretty hard at my temp job, and stayed a temp. Then I worked hard as a part-timer and was passed over for a full time position not once, but twice.

I also agree with the OP, this movie is part of the Horatio Alger myth which has 'justified' the Reagan-Republican lack of compassion.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

95. On paper I look very privileged

On my resume I have three degrees, including a doctorate, and graduated from two private colleges. I have decades of experience in challenging jobs.

I'm white, my parents are college educated, even my grandparents were college educated, and according to the idea of white privilege, I should be doing well, making $100K or so at a job.

But I'm not. I've been unemployed for a long time and my parents hated me for years for being unemployed. We (and I'm including white males here) busted ass in college and grad school, and did the best we could in our jobs, which was excellent. But nobody cared. They were jealous and stopped us and fired us. We wonder why we bought into the idea of working hard and getting a good education to be "successful". There are millions of us.

I'm convinced we are back in the feudal system. It's who you know in the upper caste. That's all that matters. Not ability or anything else. Just bribery or friendship.

[Javaman]

110. I call it the corporate feudal state. nt

[Kerrytravelers]

53. My father's family were sharecroppers.

Completing their education was not an option. They had to work on the farm to make money. They still didn't make enough. My father was given a large pair of shoes when he was 12. He stuffed the toes with old papers. He was still wearing those shoes at 18, but the stuffing was taken out because he had finally grown into them. The family owned nothing. There was no kitchen when they moved onto the farm in 1941. In 1950, the owners finally had one built. They still heated the place with a pot bellied stove. In 1986, when my father's last remaining parents died, there still was no running water or much electricity in the house. I remember using the outhouse and pumping water from the well out front.

My family worked hard every day. They were in the fields, working the land. They raised animals for sell and for their own basic needs. My father and his two brothers were responsible for working the land, as well.

My paternal grandmother developed lung cancer at 57 years old. She never smoked a day in her life. No one on the farm did. They had no access to doctors in the rural part of Kentucky they were in. She turned green with cancer. My mother's parents came to see them, and called for their family friend who was a doctor to care for my paternal grandmother. By the time the doctor got there, all he could do was show my paternal grandfather how to give my grandmother shots of (probably morphine) to ease her suffering as she painfully died. He gave them the medication for free because he was a good and honest man who took being a doctor seriously.

So, I guess my family must have made some bad choices. They must have deserved their situation. My grandmother must not have worked hard enough, or she would have had access to a doctor.

There are still people living in these exact conditions all over this part of rural Kentucky and many other places, both rural and urban, suburban and otherwise all over this country.

[Mikey929]

58. No Offense

I apologize. No offense to you and your family. I realize some people have very tough lives. I was in the mind-set of defending this movie which was being attacked on here because it shows a person succeeding through hard work and dedication, as if those are somehow R-wing attributes. And I was only saying that hard work and dedication should be expected of all people, and that it will --more likely than not -- yield good results. Is it perfect? No. Do children of rich people have it easier? Of course. Circumstances still wield considerable power over our lives. But I didn't see why we had to attack this one man who lifted himself out of poverty and made a success out of himself. He is a great role model and should not be the object of scorn because he did well.

Truce, OK?

[Kerrytravelers]

60. No worries.

I agree that hard work is always what people should do. And I also agree that, without having seen the movie, an attack on the concept that seizing opportunities that come your way is a bit merit-less.

[Skittles]

82. you have no idea what you are talking about

no idea at ALL

[tinfoilinfor2005]

88. You clearly state that you are a republican.

If you read the DU rules, you will see that although your opinions might be valuable and worth discussion, this is not the forum for you. You will probably find a friendlier atmosphere at freerepublic. But thanks for playing!

[DerBeppo]

59. The janitors at my school make more than I do

as a teacher. Not the worst option.

[hfojvt]

78. they don;t get the summers off though

It may depend where you are on the pay scale. I do not know what starting teacher pay is. In a neighboring town though, janitors start at $8.5 an hour, and that is for a night shift. That's $17,000 a year. An algebra teacher was fired from that school for inappropriate contact with students. He'd been there 20 years or so. His salary - $45,000. Especially ironic, since I am Good Will Hunting - a math major who works as a janitor.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

92. Working hard didn't get me any job security, neither did 3 degrees

I don't know what universe the poster is in that said you could work hard and be in poverty. I haven't been able to find a job in a helluva long time. Poverty or no. I have been not hired and/or fired for some of the most amazingly illogical and strange reasons that I could not think up.

I worked hard, I earned three college degrees. One degree was community college vocational school (the only useful degree I got). The other two were from expensive private schools where rich kids go to school.

I went to law school at night for FIVE YEARS while working FULLTIME (including typing transcripts on weekends) at the courthouse as a court reporter (court stenographer).

And I paid for it myself because I made enough money as a court reporter. This was over twenty years ago. I never got in the pension system with the county because I never had a mentor and nobody explained the choices to me about getting in the system or not. I got backstabbed a lot, and various people were jealous of my education, and some lawyers and judges just enjoy being mean for no discernible reason.

After I quit court reporting because I was completely stressed out and burned out, I could not find a decent job. I had a few temp jobs that were really bad, a couple of retail dept. store jobs I was WAY over qualified for, and i have never been able to get a job where I could use my bachelors' degree or my Juris Doctor. One of their favorite tactics is to not tell me what to do and then tell me I was disobedient.


Back in the late 90s when the economy was supposed to be good, I couldn't find a job for several years. My parents were elderly, losing their marbles and yelled at me all the time. They kept saying "Why can't you find a job? There's plenty of ads in the paper and you've got a damn good education." and I would say "Damned if I know. I can't figure out why I can't get a job." This went on for years and I fell out of the middle class. Because of their attitude, i figure that my being a good citizen was a waste of time. As far as they were concerned, I could have been a bank robber or major criminal in their eyes.


I looked for a job for a year and and a half recently, with my J.D. and I got ONE interview in that whole time. Now I think it's age discrimination.


Working hard and even having a superior education will NOT get you ahead, or even get you a job where you can even use your brains. Employers don't want bright people; they are threatened by them because the bosses are insecure. They don't want to use your skills; they want to keep you down. Or even better, fire you so they can keep the money themselves. Use fewer people and work them until they break physically and mentally. People are expendable.


There were no workplace shootings, by fired workers or unhappy workers, until the Reagan years and the union busting and large scale firings started. Being rich and greedy was acceptable.

[raccoon]

107. I have to say, this has been my experience too.

"Employers don't want bright people; they are threatened by them because the bosses are insecure. They don't want to use your skills; they want to keep you down. "

[raccoon]

106. Yeah, right.

"I guess I just have a tough time believing people can work really hard and still be in poverty."

Plenty of them do...look around you.

[kineneb]

109. work hard, lose your health, become poor, stay poor

if you develop a chronic illness in the US, you are doomed to live out your days in poverty. Hubby DID have a good job, until he was laid off from WorldCom. They even had ADA accommodations for his eyesight, after he had the laser surgery for diabetic retinopathy. But after he lost that job, no one would hire him- age and health discrimination.

We did sell a house in the SF Bay Area, and have a low mortgage payment out in the country... BUT, he has End Stage Renal Disease (read "on dialysis") now, and we are living on his $1200/month SSDI payment. I don't dare earn any money officially, or he will loose his Medicaid coverage, and we would wind up paying more than I earn for his multiple medications and the nasty Medicare Part D premium.

Oh, and to get him care before he became disabled, we had to spend down all of our cash assets: savings, IRAs, and my paltry life insurance policy.

Don't get sick in the US, unless you enjoy being forced to be poor.

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

Oh, and- I have no intention of seeing the movie. I can't afford to go to it.

[EFerrari]

76. Wow. I hope you never find yourself in need, my friend. n/t

[Skittles]

81. amen to that

that guy just does not get it, not at ALL

[EFerrari]

83. Until you've been there, you haven't been there.

I wish us all insight which is less painful than first hand experience.

[Skittles]

84. yes

I'm thinking of a friend of mine who worked hard all his life but when he was laid off and his family hit by mutliple serious health issues he very quickly found out how fragile the good life can be.

[EFerrari]

86. That's our story in a nutshell.

It's not all that hard to do, becoming homeless.

:hug: to you, Skittles. Here's to a better, more compassionate and smarter year.

:toast:

[Skittles]

87. anyone should know it can happen to them

even republicans

[EFerrari]

89. We're brought up on this fiction that we are safe.

And that only bad, lazy, dirty or colorful people are not safe AND that's their fault.

Well, this Berkeley doctoral candidate with fellowships in hand got a good long look at the other side of this fiction.

We can do better. We must do better. And, we will.

:)

[Skittles]

90. damn straight we can do better

:thumbsup:

Happy Holidays to you sfexpat2000! :thi:

[EFerrari]

91. And to you and yours, Skittles.

As our wise Magistrate says, let's go get those Bush bastards.

Oh -- and peace and love, too. :evilgrin:

[Selatius]

5. How many people worked hard their entire lives and never knew more than a modest living?

How many people worked hard their entire lives and never knew anything more than the poverty line?

It's not the American Dream to be rich and wealthy. That's not a dream as much as it is a nightmare of impossible goals and unrealistic expectations.

And that notion that if you work hard, you'll automatically succeed? That's corporate propaganda. Working hard increases your chances of living a comfortable life, but for too many people, it paid them shit in the end, especially if they got fucked over by their employer.

To be sure, there are those who succeed by working hard and playing by the rules, but that's only half the story, the prettier half at that. The other half of the story is not pretty.

You shouldn't work hard just because you believe it will lead to success. That's crap. If you work hard, you work to make yourself and your family happy. The pursuit of happiness--that's the forgotten American Dream.

[diamidue]

99. And then there are those who work hard

but do not have the intelligence to advance. I found it fascinating that 10% of the population have an IQ of 80 or below and another 16% have IQ's in the 80-90 range. That is 26% of Americans. These people are supposed to go to college to earn degrees to allow them to have better jobs? To pull themselves up by their bootstraps? It is unrealistic.

[bowens43]

7. So we should never tell a success story?

That's silly. Everyday, people all over the world rise above their circumstances. There is nothing wrong with showing people what can be done.

[JCMach1]

9. Not a success story... this is a fantasy story

It doesn't even begin to tell the real story of someone in a situation like this...

[Connie_Corleone]

12. Read his own words, if you think it's fantasy.

http://www.chrisgardnermedia.com/main/biography.htm

Read it or don't read it.

[JCMach1]

14. So where are his film proceeds going? Seems like a rewrite of the Horatio Alger story

And that's why his 'story' was made into a film...

It's just not a coincidence that the story matches-up beautifully with right-wing beliefs about welfare and homelessness...

[JacksonWest]

104. But.... isn't....it....true......

Does not compute

[Connie_Corleone]

13. You would think this was the first rags to riches story ever made

in Hollywood from the way people on here are overreacting to it.

[JCMach1]

16. Not an overreaction... I was disgusted by the blatant politcal messages

hidden just underneath in the trailer... This is not subtle in any way...

This is full-blown propaganda mode...


If it's not, then 'Red Dawn' was just a fantasy story of individual heroism... pay no attention to those dirty commies...

[Connie_Corleone]

17. At least you actually watched Red Dawn and not base your

opinion on a trailer.

[JCMach1]

19. There was $5 I can't have back either...

Propaganda is propaganda no matter how well-done, or well-acted. If you liked this, rent 'Triumph of the Will' the cinematography is brilliant.

[Connie_Corleone]

21. That's a bullshit comparison, and you know it!

You don't like the message you think the movie has based on a trailer you saw of it. Fine. But to bring Triumph of the Will into this discussion is stupid.

You crossed the line with that crap.

[JCMach1]

27. Was exaggerating, but making a point at the same time

Jeesh, some people can't take :sarcasm:

[hfojvt]

79. rising above your circumstances is 'success'?

Or making money is 'success'?

Would you re-write the movie, 'It's a Wonderful Life' to tell the story of Potter? How he rose above his circumstances to become the richest guy in town? Or what about a success story for George Bailey? He worked for a number of years at the building and loan making say $40 a week ($45!) and then was offered a three year contract to work for Potter at $20,000 a year. Hooray!! :party: He rose above his circumstances and was not afraid of success! We should all :clap: and look up to him.

I prefer a different idea of success, than either this movie or "We are Marshall" portrays.

[Common Sense Party]

96. Hollywood can only show sports success stories, I guess.

Plucky underdog basketball/football/bobsled team rises above racism, internal team friction, and lack of talent to become a unified team and win the championship.

Personal stories of economic success are just implausible, unrealistic works of fiction.

:sarcasm:

[varun]

11. My thoughts eactly

Chris never went for government assistance. I have not read the book, so dont know if in reality Chris ever went for assistance. It seems unlikely to me.

Somehow I'm reminded of that (in)famous author who boasted about his travels and hardshsp around the world (promoted by Oprah), and then later found guilty of lying about it in his autobiography.

[underpants]

15. From what I know about it it seems like it is more about opportunity

Yes it is self created opportunity but in the end he gets (takes) the opportunity and is successful. I have met many stockbrokers and it really isn't all that hard.

I great story and one that should be told but I am not surprised that only the "up by the bootstraps" element is the one being highlighted.

[marmar]

18. I guess I can see why you'd get that message, but there's not a hidden agenda in everything....

And besides, how many homeless people are going to see this movie?

[JCMach1]

20. Can you name ONE realistic movie made about the homeless/homelessness in America

since the Reagan era? Made for TV movies don't count... neither do LIFETIME...

I can think of 0

[DemocratSinceBirth]

41. Trading Places

Actually that was quite funny...

But not as funny as "Coming To America"...

[NYCGirl]

44. Streetwise

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088196/maindetails

[NoPasaran]

22. Jeez, it's just a M O V I E ! ! !

One might as well whine about the Wizard of Oz:

Hollywood's Message to the Commuter: Click your heels and say "I wish I was home, I wish I was home"

[hfojvt]

80. and Horatio Alger books were just books

'Birth of a Nation' was a movie too, and so was 'Heaven's Gate'. Although only the latter was said to have a progressive message. I'm still looking for a copy of the movie 'Praise Marx and Pass the Ammunition'.

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. How many homeless people go to the movies?

:shrug:

[aceman2373]

25. So because it's not easy for the homeless

to better themselves and become self sufficiant, any sucsess stories of those who do are right-wing propaganda?
I choose to give people a little more credit than that.

[JCMach1]

28. Why this story now? What are the values behind this?

Sorry, but I am sticking to my guns on this one... It is pure repug koolaid for the masses disguised as a feel good movie.

And yes, I am looking at it from an ideological standpoint. And no, I don't often have so strong a reaction to films in this way.

But this, is PURE republican ideology :puke:

Apparently I wasn't the only critic to think so...

[ProfessorGAC]

29. Methinks You're Reading Too Deeply, JC

These types of "feelgood" movies have been a mainstay of Hollywood for 60 years. There's no need for it be propagandistic or republican. It's a common storyline, and these movies make lots of people feel good at the holidays, and that means the movie companies make big bucks.

Nothing more nefarious than that need be in play.
The Professor

[madmusic]

101. Yes, by law...

Although attendance at movies blossomed, the industry felt under siege from complaining groups -- religious, civic and governmental. State and local censorship was a fact, but tougher federal action was inevitably proposed. In 1922, the industry created the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, and put a Midwest conservative Republican named Will Hays in charge. It was up to Hays to head off any direct federal control by instituting a regime of so-called “self regulation.” Under this scheme, studios would submit a synopsis of every play, novel or story under consideration.

Hays wrestled, though, with the devilishly complex question of what should and should not be permitted. Within a six year period, more than 125 movie proposals were rejected. Complaints persisted, though, and Hays then created a special Studio Relations Department or SRD to tighten the existing vague standard. Jason Joy, former head of the American Red Cross, took over the SRD, and instituted a code known as the “Don’t and Be Carefulls.” The new standards prohibited many of the themes and depictions from the silent era including nudity, drug use, crime and prostitution.

Much of the anti-movie lobby was under the sway of Protestant groups including the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Federal Motion Picture Council headed by New York preacher William Schaefe Chase. Another was the Motion Picture Research Council led by Rev. William Short. This group issued numerous position papers and studies which claimed to link cinema to juvenile crime and other problems. In 1926, Chase and Short led a delegation of more than 200 religious and civic leaders to Washington, DC to demand government censorship and regulation of the movie industry.

Just as today, much of the rhetoric was hard, demonizing and often based on questionable evidence. Canon Chase described movies as “a threat to world civilization,” and excoriated the “Hebrew” owners and producers of the industry. All of these groups also painted the movie industry as somehow “forcing” its wares on an unsuspecting and helpless public.

http://www.americanatheist.org/supplement/legion.html

[nini]

35. HARD WORK IS NOT REPUBLICAN IDEOLOGY

It's a HUMAN ideology - and for you to say that is a slam against every hard working liberal that made it during tough times.


Jesus Christ... can't you see what you're saying?

[JCMach1]

37. You don't get it... the Republican ideology has always been (towards welfare)

hard work= economic success and prosperity...

That equation has always been part of the big lie.

[nini]

42. I get it just fine

You do need to work hard to make it.

You also need assistance during tough times to allow you to work hard. Now.. didn't he get some kind of assistance while he was pulling his life back together? Just because that wasn't the main focus of the movie, it is in there.

I want to take the message to be that with hard work AND help when you need it - you can achieve. If the movie didn't dwell on going to the welfare office etc.. so be it. The focus was on the fact he didn't give up no matter what.


I am so freaking tired of everything having to be turned political that we can't see straight anymore. A story about someone who did not give up on his life is a good thing.

I went from welfare to a college degree and close to 6 figures in income. I know the battles and I know it tool a hell of a lot of hard work on my part to achieve what I did. HARD WORK is part of the equation and it's not just republicans that know this - that is my point with you. You're making it seem like Democrats do not recognize the value of hard work. WE DO.

However, We also believe there are far too many people living in poverty in this country that need every social program to live a decent life. This movie can show people you need both to pull yourself back up.

[ellacott]

45. I agree with you

I'm sitting here shaking my head at the criticism this film is receiving. There is too much republican paranoia.

This is a story about overcoming odds. Of course this won't happen to everyone(hence the interest and the movie).

Someone posted why it was just now coming out. It's just now coming out because they purposely saved it for the Christmas season.

It would be helpful to do more research into the life of Chris Gardner.

This is a very inspiring movie and should be seen by many people.

One thing that is not shown in the movie but is so important is that Mr. Garnder has not forgotten where he came from and he gives back. That's on thing that republicans don't do.

Why are so many of you against rich people. It's almost like there's some jealousy.

[LoZoccolo]

102. Exactly. Republicans would like for people to think it is, though.

And some of us are too happy to get on the other side and agree!

[Freddie Stubbs]

49. The movie industry has a far more sinister motive

They want to make money. Feel-good success stories are popular with movie goers.

[PVnRT]

57. What? Businesses want to make money? THIS IS HUGH

SERIES!!!!!111

[Bridget Burke]

32. Or: If your savings & loan has problems, everyone will help!

Ever hear of "fiction"? Yes, I know this one was "based on a true story." But that usually means fairly heavy fictionalized.

[JCMach1]

38. Not even in the same ballpark....

If you want to analyze that... action by a collective of people serves the greater good of the individual AND the larger community in the face of Capitalist oppression!

Capra was a closet socialist after all...!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

40. How Is The Story That Different From Rocky?

eom

[nini]

33. God forbid we have a motivational story to not give up when times are tough

Considering this is a true story that has a message of not giving up and fighting for survival - that's not a bad thing.

I doubt anyone will come out of there thinking the mentally ill or disabled fall into the category of this man. If anyone does feel that way they already do and this movie won't change their mind one way or another.

If anything I would hope people may see the need for assistance, housing etc.. to get people over the hump as they work to straighten out their lives. Without that support is when people find it hard to break away from the poverty.

[JCMach1]

36. Other Critics on this piece of tripe

... It’s the same old bootstraps story, an American dream artfully told, skillfully sold. To that calculated end, the filmmaking is seamless, unadorned, transparent, the better to serve Mr. Smith’s warm expressiveness. That warmth feels truthful, as does the walk-up apartment Chris’s family lives in at the start of the film, which looks like the real paycheck-to-paycheck deal. As does the day care center, which is so crummy it can’t even get happiness right (hence the title).

This is no small thing, considering the film industry’s usual skewed sense of economic class, a perspective encapsulated by the insider who described the middle-class family in “Little Miss Sunshine” to me as working class, perhaps because the mother drives a gently distressed Miata rather than next year’s Mercedes.

Money matters in “The Pursuit of Happyness,” as it does in life. But it matters more openly in this film than it does in most Hollywood stories that set their sights on the poor, largely because Chris’s pursuit of happiness eventually becomes interchangeable with his pursuit of money. He doesn’t want just a better, more secure life for himself and his child; either by scripted design or by the example of the real Chris Gardner, he seems to yearn for a life of luxury, stadium box seats and the kind of sports car he stops to admire in one scene. His desires aren’t just upwardly mobile; they’re materialistically unbound. Instead of a nice starter home, he (and the filmmakers) ogles mansions. It’s no wonder he hopes to become a stockbroker... http://movies2.nytimes.com/2006/12/15/movies/15happ.html?amp;ei=5083&en=c22683c99da57e7f&ex=1197694800&adxnnl=1&=&adxnnlx=1166460973-/g+vTUBZS9pXq8GJLNvgxA

...Steve Conrad's screenplay is also curiously but insistently silent on the subject of race. Unlike SOMETHING NEW or even TRADING PLACES, two sharp comedies that deal frankly with the issue of being black in the overwhelmingly white business world, the film makes it seem as if the only obstacles Chris faces are a lack of a college education and the fellow poor who keep stealing his scanners. Those obvious shots of affluent-looking black extras walking in and out of frame ensure that when Chris tells his son that he must never let anyone tell him he can't do something, we know he's not talking about the racial discrimination experienced by many African Americans — college grads included. And while Thomas Jefferson may have been morally opposed to slavery, he still owned 200 black men and women and probably wasn't thinking of people like Chris when he declared that all men are free to preserve their liberty and pursue happiness. Nonetheless, Chris — and the movie — quotes him without a shred of irony or bitterness... http://www.tvguide.com/detail/movie.aspx?tvobjectid=284466&more=ucmoviereview

[BestCenter]

65. So, what

Are you saying that the film didn't play the race card enough? That the only reason why he was poor was because he was black?

[mondo joe]

43. It's JUST A MOVIE. I swear, the left wing can be just as nuts as the right

when it comes to entertainment.

[xultar]

98. No shit. Isn't it a trip?

[WindRavenX]

103. lol, amen

Must be something in the water...

SO and I will be seeing it later in the week.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

52. I'm Going To See Rocky Later

I hope that movie's not verboten here.

[Telly Savalas]

61. Rocky is RW propaganda.

The subtext is clear: if Rocky can enter the ring yet again at his age, then there's clearly no need for a Social Security program to help with retirement. Senior citizens shouldn't retire. They gotta go out how they gotta out.

[BestCenter]

64. Excellent satire, sir!

I swear, some people are just FReepers trying to make liberals look like they hate any story about rags to riches.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

67. LOL

Rocky's speech about life and winning being about getting hit hard and moving forward was written by Peggy Noonan. :sarcasm:

[Kerrytravelers]

54. Unless they show Will Smith's character bemoaning the system and

portraying those who seek assistant as the reagan Welfare Queen bullshit, then I wouldn't worry too much. It seems to me to be a movie that is based more on Will Smith's charisma and that of his kid's than any actual interesting storytelling, and not something that I was interested in to begin with from when I first read about it months ago. It seems a typical, formulaic story and boring, but not some piece of right-wing machinery.

And, I don't have proof, but I don't see the Smith household as some right-wing hack factory.

[Norquist Nemesis]

55. That's a big broad brush to call it "Hollywood's Message"

:eyes:

It's one movie, with one director, one team of producers, and one cast of actors. Geez! It's not the whole freaking Hollywood community!

I'm looking forward to seeing it and hope to be entertained.

[riderinthestorm]

56. It's a horror film, a movie showing the thin edge between poverty and making it.

It's a tale about how easy it is to fall into real poverty and become homeless even if you are working your ass off.

(My summation of the review from David Edelstein on Terry Gross yesterday).

David Edelstein of course, has actually SEEN the film and described it as a "horror movie". He said he felt physically "terrified" watching the film as the creeping realization hit him that this movie demonstrated very powerfully that poverty can happen to anyone and that it is a "thin edge", a single paycheck in many cases, that can tip the scales.

His review was very powerful. I'll go see the film since I think anything that helps Americans to understand that poverty isn't just a product of laziness (like our visiting Rethug upthread wants to posit) is a good thing.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

62. Don't blame Hollywood.

Blame the public who turn over cash for this Forrest Gump, I Am Sam, Patch Adams "life-affirming" shit.

[Sapere aude]

63. I saw the movie over the weekend and you are making way too much of this.

The movie is a portrayal of the life of a person and not a political statement. Everything in the world doesn't have to drive your agenda.

Get over it!

On edit,

I enjoyed the movie very much and recommend it. Try to get some enjoyment out of the fact that one person made it after being homeless. Celebrate that. If you can't do that I don't think you will ever find what you are looking for.

I was a homeless person myself for a while. It taught me a very important lesson. I learned that if your life is shit you have to do something to change it. There is no guarantee that what you do will change your circumstances but there is a guarantee that if you do nothing they will not change. I identified with the character's willingness to do what ever it takes to change his life and that is a message I think we all can get out of this.

Our lives depend a lot on the choices we make and not so much on how society is put together. We may not be able to change the system but we can change ourselves. We have to accept things as they are and deal with them.

Courage, acceptance and the willingness to do what ever it takes. I got that from the 12 steps.

[Cleita]

66. For all those rich Hlywd people who don't think they should pay taxes

so that we can help Americans out of poverty, I have an idea. Since most of you are rattling around in big mansions with a lot of empty bedrooms and bathrooms, how about inviting some homeless people to stay with you in those empty bedrooms until they pull their lives together? Hmmm? I didn't think so.

We need social welfare programs administered by professional social workers and funded by those taxpayers fortunate enough to have excessive income that we can tax so that we can house and feed those less fortunate than us until they can turn their lives around.

[Pastiche423]

77. I heartily agree w/your post

(but then, I usually do.)

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

68. No, clearly...it's left wing propaganda

Trying to show that a black man with no experience is smart enough to overcome his racial and class inferiority and should be allowed to play with white men in the business world is more commie liberal bullshit from the homosexual PC police of Hollywood. :sarcasm:

See, I can make idiotic claims about the message behind a movie too, just like the freepers do, and like you did here. It's the same pile, same smell.

[RamboLiberal]

69. How is it s bad thing to show the true story of a black man

Busting his butt against the system trying to take care of his son actually making it and giving back to the community?

And then you didn't even see it or read the book but base your criticism on the trailer.

Well I just saw the ABC news report on this man and I intend to see this movie this week, and maybe even read the book.

I think this kind of story is inspiring. And I think it does show how close many of us are to the situation this very smart man found himself in.

I don't think it suggests that every homeless person could dig themsevles out as this man did.

[Kurovski]

70. It's true. All you need is a really good agent.

A cannibal with an innate sense of the right project for you.

Everyone knows that. Sheesh.

[dennis00]

71. About Hollywood

I lived and worked there for many years.
Paramount was the only movie studio in Hollywood. Universal is in Universtal City. Disney and Warner's are in Burbank. What was MGM, now Sony, is in Culver City. 20th Century fox is in Century City. Hollywood is mostly a television town.
It was a down and out ragged town, the runaway capital of America. I wanted to take the first two letters of Hollywood and the first two letters of Boulevard and rename the street HoBo. I understand it has been cleaned up and made more tourist friendly since I was there.
The movie industry is a bitch to work in. An actor with words MUST belong to SAG. The Screen Actors Guild. And MUST have an agent. It is nearly impossible to get your SAG card. Those who do have gotten it the hard way. They worked for it. SAG has about a 95% unemployment rate. An actors main job is finding work.
I spent five days working on ROCKY IV. I will tell you for a fact that Stallone is a HARD worker. He busts his tail. Works his crew hard to.
The two nicest, friendliest people I met were Linda Blair and Peter Fonda. Brooke Shields is also a nice lady.
This was in the middle eighties. Many memories ago.

[BTG]

72. Why are you on DU?

This is a site full of pro-Capital authoritarians who completely believe in American exceptionalism and scoff at the notion that white privilge might exist.

[BestCenter]

74. Are you an agent provocateur? (n/t)

[tinfoilinfor2005]

93. What is this "white privilge" of which you speak?

Does it rhyme with Hugh Moran? :rofl:

[onecent]

73. I have seen this movie, and recommended it to a relative of mine.

It was basically a movie about how someone handles adversity...it shows people that they are not alone.

Of course it didn't dwell on the homeless. It didn't intend too. It dwelled on the fact that you can be down and out, and just little things can change your path.

I was inspired because I have a family member that is unbelievable. He handles adversity in a way I never could. I probably would have shot myself if I had to endure what he does. However, he keeps on trucking. And I am so fucking proud of him.

I actually think he is on the right path. He is here this time to learn something, I wish we knew what. But he's a trooper.

I told him to go see this movie. (Not to be a stock broker for God's sake) but to realize that this man among many many others, has followed a dream.....and won!! It didn't happen overnight for him and it isn't going to happen overnight for my loved one.

Go see the movie before you blubber along about what it is or isn't....but then again, you don't have to like it....That's what makes the world go around.

Merry Christmas.

[Jcrowley]

85. Anyone can do it in the land of milk and...

Successitudes™ began with my life-long passion for acquiring stuff- money, cars, fine cigars like this one I'm holding, chicks (of course). I learned long ago that if you want a piece of the action, you gotta strap on a pair of brass ones. Now, some inspirational merchandisers talk a good game about positive mental attitude. They'd have you festoon your office with posters telling you how life is like a golf course and paperweights telling you what T-E-A-M stands for. If that type of candy-ass uplift makes you feel better about your dead-end middle-management job, fine. But just remember- high-net-worth individuals like myself find chunks of suckers like you in our stools every morning. And that, asshole, is why you should write for our catalog today. P.O. Box 3788293, Chicago, IL 60637.


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[cynatnite]

94. The previews looked really good. We'll rent it when it comes out n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

97. It's A True Story, He's A Brilliant Actor And I'm Sure It's A Great Movie.

I look forward to seeing it.

As far as if I'm supposed to be disturbed, bothered, angry or in a tizzy over it or somethin; just ain't gonna happen.

[nam78_two]

100. Yay! Another moronic movie

I guess Americans aren't getting stupid fast enough :eyes:

[JacksonWest]

105. This is unreal

Christ. Now a movie that has a positive message is upsetting? Because it's too positive? Is there nothing that people will not take offense at?

[Freddie Stubbs]

111. Apparently it is wrong to show a true story about how someone overcome

obstacles because it just isn't fair to the people who we know just aren't capable doing it.

[JacksonWest]

112. Oh. Well, suddenly, I'm offended by sporting events.

I can't run that fast or jump that high.

[Javaman]

108. Isn't catapulting the propaganda fun?????

I thought the same thing when I saw it. It's the repukes utopian version of homelessness.

homeless people just have to think outside the box!!! :sarcasm:

I weep for our future. But then again, by the way things are going, everyone will be homeless soon.